Evaluate the expression \( \frac{\sqrt{-4}}{\sqrt{-4} - 2} \) and write the result in the form \( a + bi...
The real number \( a \) equals
The real number \( b \) equals
First, simplify \( \sqrt{-4} \) as \( 2i \), where \( i \) is the imaginary unit.
Then, the expression becomes:
\[ \frac{2i}{2i - 2} \]
Factor out 2 from the denominator:
\[ \frac{2i}{2(i - 1)} = \frac{i}{i - 1} \]
Multiply the numerator and the denominator by the conjugate of the denominator \( i + 1 \):
\[ \frac{i(i + 1)}{(i - 1)(i + 1)} = \frac{i^2 + i}{i^2 - 1} \]
Since \( i^2 = -1 \), this simplifies to:
\[ \frac{-1 + i}{-1 - 1} = \frac{-1 + i}{-2} \]
Divide each term by \(-2\):
\[ \frac{1}{2} - \frac{i}{2} \]
Thus, \( a = \frac{1}{2} \) and \( b = -\frac{1}{2} \).
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